SENIOR Sefton councillors have warned colleagues to pull back and take stock after a week of turmoil at the top of the authority.

SENIOR Sefton councillors have warned colleagues to pull back and take stock after a week of turmoil at the top of the authority.

The words of caution by figures from all three parties on the hung council follows the suspension of its deputy chief executive, Alan Moore, to allow an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct to take place.

Also this week, it emerged that Debi Jones, a broadcasting personality and Conservative councillor for Crosby’s Manor ward, has been reported to the Standards Board of England as part of the probe into the misconduct allegation against Mr Moore.

She said: “I have absolutely no idea what I’m supposed to have done, there are political manoeuvrings going on in Sefton Council at the moment.

“I feel I’m being used as a pawn in a political game and I’m furious to be used in this way.”

Yesterday Tory group leader Cllr Paula Parry said: “I have no worries about Debi at all, she’s a very honest and good councillor.”

She also confirmed she is to meet today with Graham Haywood, Sefton Council’s chief executive, to find out why Cllr Jones had been reported to the watchdog that oversees councillors’ conduct.

Raising the possibility of a link between the latest developments and the furious dispute that erupted last month over cuts to senior management posts – which pitted the Tories and Labour against the Lib Dems – Cllr Parry said: “This all seems too much of a coincidence to happen at the same time.”

That view was challenged by the Lib Dem leader of the council, Cllr Tony Robertson, who said: “I think it is unfortunate that these two issues have blown up at the same time.

“My focus is on trying to keep the ship going along while acknowledging that some serious issues have popped up – time will resolve them.”

Recent political ruptures at the top of Sefton Council have left some councillors worried about its overall stability.

Cllr Jack Colbert, a Lib Dem councillor for Molyneux ward, said: “As a councillor I feel bemused by all this. The people must be absolutely gobsmacked by everything that’s going on behind the scenes.

“It’s not a comedy of errors, it’s an out and out circus.”

Cllr Les Byrom, a Tory representative for Southport’s Dukes ward, suggested Sefton may benefit from the advice of “a well-experienced chief executive on another local authority”.

But reported descriptions by a cabinet member that Sefton is at “cracking point” were denied by both Cllr Parry and Cllr Peter Dowd, deputy leader of the Labour group.

Cllr Dowd said: “I do think people need to take a step back from the febrile environment and take a mature approach to getting on with running the council efficiently and effectively.”

Southport’s Lib Dem MP, John Pugh, called for “stable leadership and continuity at the top” of the borough.

A spokesman for the Audit Commission confirmed that Mr Haywood had consulted with the district auditor over the “process” of suspending Mr Moore.

But he said of the investigation by Sefton Council into its suspended deputy chief executive: “This is not something we will be directly involved with.”